1. Introduction
Welcome to Our Store. We take your privacy seriously and we are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains in plain language what information we collect when you visit our website [yourwebsite.com], create an account, place an order, or contact us. It also explains why we collect that information, how we use and protect it, who we share it with, and what rights you have over it. We operate in the United Kingdom, so we handle your data in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. By using our website or placing an order with us, you confirm that you have read and understood this policy. If you do not agree with it, please do not use our website.
2. Information We Collect From You
We collect personal information that you give us directly. When you create an account, place an order, or contact us, we may collect your full name, email address, telephone number, billing address and delivery address. If you are a wholesale or business customer, we may also collect your company name, company registration number, VAT number and trading address. Because we sell age-restricted products, we may also ask for proof of age or identity, such as a photo ID, to confirm that you are 18 years or older before we accept or dispatch an order. If you contact us by email, phone or through our contact form, we keep a record of that conversation so we can help you properly. Payments are handled by secure third-party payment providers. We do not see or store your full card number or security code on our servers.
3. Information We Collect Automatically
When you visit our website, certain technical information is collected automatically. This includes your IP address, browser type and version, device type, operating system, the pages you view, the links you click, the time and date of your visit, and the website you came from. We collect this information using cookies and similar technologies. It helps us keep the website secure, make sure it works properly on your device, and understand how visitors use it so we can improve it. This information does not usually identify you personally by name.
4. How We Use Your Information
We only use your personal information when we have a lawful reason to do so. The main reasons are:
- To process, confirm and deliver your orders, and to send you order and delivery updates
- To create and manage your account
- To verify your age, identity and eligibility to buy from us
- To take payments, issue refunds and prevent fraudulent transactions
- To answer your questions and provide customer support
- To improve our website, products and services
- To meet our legal, tax and accounting obligations
- To send you news, offers and promotions, but only where you have agreed to receive them
You can opt out of marketing emails at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in any email, or by contacting us directly. Opting out of marketing will not affect important service messages about your orders.
5. Who We Share Your Information With
We do not sell, rent or trade your personal information to anyone. We only share it with trusted companies that help us run our business, and only to the extent they need it to do their job. These include payment processors, courier and delivery companies, website hosting and IT providers, age and identity verification services, email service providers, and our accountants or professional advisers. All of them are required to keep your data secure and to use it only for the services they provide to us. We may also share your information if the law requires it, if a court or public authority asks for it, or to protect our rights, our customers or the public from fraud or harm.
6. Cookies and Similar Technologies
Our website uses cookies, which are small text files stored on your device. Some cookies are essential, for example those that remember the items in your cart, keep you logged in, and allow you to check out securely. Others help us understand how the website is used, so we can make it faster and easier to use. You can control or delete cookies at any time through your browser settings. If you block essential cookies, some parts of the website, such as the cart and checkout, may not work correctly. Where required by law, we will ask for your consent before using non-essential cookies.
7. Data Security
We take the security of your information seriously. We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data from loss, misuse, unauthorised access, disclosure or alteration. These include secure (SSL/HTTPS) connections, restricted access to personal data, and trusted hosting and payment providers. However, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, so while we work hard to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security. Please also keep your account password private.
8. How Long We Keep Your Information
We keep your personal information only for as long as we need it for the purposes described in this policy. For example, we keep order and invoice records for the period required by UK tax and accounting law, and we keep account details for as long as your account remains active. Age verification documents are kept only as long as necessary to confirm your eligibility and meet our legal duties. When your information is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymise it.
9. Your Rights
Under UK data protection law, you have the following rights:
- Access: to ask for a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Correction: to ask us to fix anything that is inaccurate or incomplete
- Deletion: to ask us to delete your data in certain circumstances
- Restriction and objection: to ask us to limit, or to object to, how we use your data
- Portability: to ask for your data in a commonly used, portable format
- Withdraw consent: to withdraw your consent at any time where we rely on it, such as for marketing
To use any of these rights, please contact us using the details below. We will normally reply within one month. If you are not happy with how we have handled your data, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk. We would appreciate the chance to resolve your concern first, so please contact us.
10. Age Restriction
Our website and products are intended only for adults aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If we find that we have collected data from someone under 18, we will delete it as soon as possible.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, for example when our services or the law change. Any updates will be posted on this page with a new “Last updated” date. We encourage you to review this page regularly.